International Women Day Feature
International Women’s Day
Posted on March 05, 2021
International Women's Day is a celebration of the past, present and future generations of women. We felt this day was essential to reflect on our TLO community and the women that surround us that we feel inspired and supported by.
We are absolutely in awe by the women we have chosen to feature this year, of each of their achievements, projects, and flow of creativity. Thank you Shari, Samantha, Amanda and Cassandra for sharing snippets of your journey in life so far.
We hope you enjoy reading these insights as much as we did!
TLO x
– Ceramicist and Founder of Szilvassy
www.szilvassy.com.au
What does International Women's Day mean to you?
I see IWD as something that is greater than simply a day, it is a celebration of the ‘feminine', for anyone who identifies as/with or appreciates. It is a day where we announce equality and mutual respect, where this awareness is practiced everyday.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
I am grateful for the women in my life and the support we have for each of other. I am proud and cherish the close bond I have with my mother, sisters and friends.
Un-ashamedly I am proud of myself for arriving at a point in my life where my artistic practice is an extension of my own truth and passion. I am more-so proud to live within a time where women are standing up, empowering change and informing integral societal models - 'Our voice matters'.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
All women in my life and those I am yet to meet, have wisdom to impart and expand our consciousness. My mother is a significant role model. She has taught me the importance of respecting nature through her practice. She has dedicated her life to several areas of Natural healing: Death Doula, Energy Healer, Art Therapist, and Counsellor. I am fortunate to share a close kinship also with my two sisters. In essence I am blessed to be surrounded by nurturing and supportive souls. Kindness, Patience, Truth, Independence, Love. These are not simply words but values and properties I am fortunate to have been surrounded by. Nature is the beholder of wellbeing and balance. I am grateful today to have been imparted with this understanding.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
I think women are inherently nurturing, so looking after ourselves and each other comes easier in relation to self-care. I think women are lucky in a sense that we are emotionally open and inclined to vocalise and share. This act of sharing is an integral part of how I express and balance. Movement of mind and body are equal focuses and through yoga, and connecting with natural environments, I am energised.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
My greatest self care ritual is practicing yoga on a daily basis. Valuing my body for all it manages to do, experienced through the learnings of Yoga - movement and breath. This forms a deepening connection within myself.
– Founder of Fig & Salt
www.figandsalt.com
IWD is for me, a great chance to celebrate women in all their glory. It’s a time to take stock and reflect on all the progress women have made as a society while also realising there is still a long way to go.
I’m most proud of how I have built Fig & Salt from the ground up, it is something that i have had to be tenacious with, as the industry is ever-evolving. I’m proud of the way I have grown alongside it through the highs and lows! I have made a trillion mistakes along the way but I'm grateful for these. I think they’ve shaped me and my business.
– Founder of Jonny Condoms
www.jonny.com.au
What does this day mean to you?
To me, it is a celebration of the tenacious efforts and achievements of women around the world on all fronts - socially, culturally, economically and politically. I also feel a sense of gratitude of being a woman in full power of my decisions and proud of the camaraderie that exists between all women.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of becoming a mother! The most challenging yet pleasurable role I have ever had.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
LOVE YOURSELF DEARLY…I was too harsh on myself during my 20’s and 30’s, overly critical, always complaining about my body…I look back and I had NOTHING to worry about! Ha! Now, I am gentle and self loving, it’s a much happier way to be.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
We are natural givers…so sometimes we take a back seat. I believe as a woman, you have a strong sense of intuition. You need to tune into yourself regularly to check how well you are caring for yourself. Take the time. When you nurture yourself, you can nurture others around you in a fuller capacity.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
A bath! Water relaxes me instantly. Then a massage. After that I feel like brand new!
– Founder of Angea, Doctor of Chinese Medicine & Fertility Acupuncturist
www.angea.com.au
What does International Women's Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day provides the opportunity for us to reflect on our past, evaluate where we are at now and understand how we can better move forward in the future. Disparity still exists across industry, pay and gender. I would like to see International Women’s Day become a day of action and change. For example, menstrual leave become a workplace right. It is also a time where senior leaders and management can create equality for working mothers and value part-time position roles. Working in the health industry and hearing thousands of women’s stories, I am conscious of a familiar undertone that still permeates–women not being heard. International Women’s day is a day to remind women of their innate wisdom and intuition that resides within their body. A woman knows her body best!
Most of us fulfil many roles simultaneously every day- daughter, wife, mother, sister employee, colleague, mentor, boss, leader, teacher, healer and for the most part we make it look easy when it is anything but. IWD is a day of celebration of everything women accomplish silently and brilliantly, because the ability to multitask whilst making everyone around you feel equally important is the selfless act women do daily. Women you are truly amazing.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
My beautiful Mum passed in 2011 from Chemotherapy toxicity. The greatest gift she parted me with is the importance of the Mother/Daughter relationship. Mum guided me through life with strength, grace and wisdom. I will never forget her words, when you have your children “hold space for them to explore, expand and be themselves, don’t put your ideals onto your children”.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
My life has taken many dark paths that have been huge catalysts for change. I am so proud of the women, mother and practitioner I have become. 15 years ago, I started by business Amanda Waaldyk Traditional Chinese Medicine now formally known as Angea. Angea is Melbourne’s leading Women’s Integrative Acupuncture Clinic specialising in Fertility, Women’s Health, Pregnancy and Birth.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
There are many roles that I play throughout a day, from mother to business owner, to practitioner, partner that I often neglect myself. Over the years, I have had to learn to mother myself. In Chinese Medicine there is a phrase “The mother organ must be nourished so she can nourish the child organ”. When we become depleted, we are unable support our community and family. Learning how to mother yourself, having healthy boundaries and self-care is key to creating and maintaining a healthy relationship to self.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
I love my self-care ritual. Each night in the shower, I use my sisal bath glove and give myself a whole-body exfoliation. This ritual signifies the end of the day and is a total cleanse from clinic. I use a blend of Himalayan salt and San Ceuticals pH Perfect Body Wash.
We are absolutely in awe by the women we have chosen to feature this year, of each of their achievements, projects, and flow of creativity. Thank you Shari, Samantha, Amanda and Cassandra for sharing snippets of your journey in life so far.
We hope you enjoy reading these insights as much as we did!
TLO x
Shari Lowndes
– Ceramicist and Founder of Szilvassy
www.szilvassy.com.au
What does International Women's Day mean to you?
I see IWD as something that is greater than simply a day, it is a celebration of the ‘feminine', for anyone who identifies as/with or appreciates. It is a day where we announce equality and mutual respect, where this awareness is practiced everyday.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
I am grateful for the women in my life and the support we have for each of other. I am proud and cherish the close bond I have with my mother, sisters and friends.
Un-ashamedly I am proud of myself for arriving at a point in my life where my artistic practice is an extension of my own truth and passion. I am more-so proud to live within a time where women are standing up, empowering change and informing integral societal models - 'Our voice matters'.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
All women in my life and those I am yet to meet, have wisdom to impart and expand our consciousness. My mother is a significant role model. She has taught me the importance of respecting nature through her practice. She has dedicated her life to several areas of Natural healing: Death Doula, Energy Healer, Art Therapist, and Counsellor. I am fortunate to share a close kinship also with my two sisters. In essence I am blessed to be surrounded by nurturing and supportive souls. Kindness, Patience, Truth, Independence, Love. These are not simply words but values and properties I am fortunate to have been surrounded by. Nature is the beholder of wellbeing and balance. I am grateful today to have been imparted with this understanding.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
I think women are inherently nurturing, so looking after ourselves and each other comes easier in relation to self-care. I think women are lucky in a sense that we are emotionally open and inclined to vocalise and share. This act of sharing is an integral part of how I express and balance. Movement of mind and body are equal focuses and through yoga, and connecting with natural environments, I am energised.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
My greatest self care ritual is practicing yoga on a daily basis. Valuing my body for all it manages to do, experienced through the learnings of Yoga - movement and breath. This forms a deepening connection within myself.
Cassandra Morris
– Founder of Fig & Salt
www.figandsalt.com
What does this day mean to you?
IWD is for me, a great chance to celebrate women in all their glory. It’s a time to take stock and reflect on all the progress women have made as a society while also realising there is still a long way to go.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of how I have built Fig & Salt from the ground up, it is something that i have had to be tenacious with, as the industry is ever-evolving. I’m proud of the way I have grown alongside it through the highs and lows! I have made a trillion mistakes along the way but I'm grateful for these. I think they’ve shaped me and my business.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
My mother has definitely had a profound impact on my life. She is without a doubt, one of the most positive people I know, and I’ve never seen her break a sweat no matter how tough the situation she is in. I guess her biggest pearl of wisdom to me is that, everything that is meant to be will be, and if it’s not happening then it’s not meant for you and bigger things are on their way! She has this innate ability to find something to say that can relate to all things, be it personal or professional.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and thus, how to care for yourself?
I think the biggest thing that affects my relationship to myself is the level of vulnerability and openness I can give myself at any point in time. I think that this is something everybody should try and give themselves, when they can. I love dissecting my emotions and discovering new ways to tend to them with different levels of care – be it a hot cup of tea, a bath, very early night's sleep or a big chat with my therapist!
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
I started doing reformer pilates on and off about two years ago, but really became obsessed with it during lockdown last year. I was lucky enough to rent a bed through my local studio, and keep it in my house, so i was able to practice almost daily. I find for me, slow and steady movement, with a focus on breath, is the best way to clear any daily, frazzled thoughts and come back to my core self.
Samantha Eades
– Founder of Jonny Condoms
www.jonny.com.au
What does this day mean to you?
To me, it is a celebration of the tenacious efforts and achievements of women around the world on all fronts - socially, culturally, economically and politically. I also feel a sense of gratitude of being a woman in full power of my decisions and proud of the camaraderie that exists between all women.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of becoming a mother! The most challenging yet pleasurable role I have ever had.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
LOVE YOURSELF DEARLY…I was too harsh on myself during my 20’s and 30’s, overly critical, always complaining about my body…I look back and I had NOTHING to worry about! Ha! Now, I am gentle and self loving, it’s a much happier way to be.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
We are natural givers…so sometimes we take a back seat. I believe as a woman, you have a strong sense of intuition. You need to tune into yourself regularly to check how well you are caring for yourself. Take the time. When you nurture yourself, you can nurture others around you in a fuller capacity.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
A bath! Water relaxes me instantly. Then a massage. After that I feel like brand new!
Amanda Waaldyk
– Founder of Angea, Doctor of Chinese Medicine & Fertility Acupuncturist
www.angea.com.au
What does International Women's Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day provides the opportunity for us to reflect on our past, evaluate where we are at now and understand how we can better move forward in the future. Disparity still exists across industry, pay and gender. I would like to see International Women’s Day become a day of action and change. For example, menstrual leave become a workplace right. It is also a time where senior leaders and management can create equality for working mothers and value part-time position roles. Working in the health industry and hearing thousands of women’s stories, I am conscious of a familiar undertone that still permeates–women not being heard. International Women’s day is a day to remind women of their innate wisdom and intuition that resides within their body. A woman knows her body best!
Most of us fulfil many roles simultaneously every day- daughter, wife, mother, sister employee, colleague, mentor, boss, leader, teacher, healer and for the most part we make it look easy when it is anything but. IWD is a day of celebration of everything women accomplish silently and brilliantly, because the ability to multitask whilst making everyone around you feel equally important is the selfless act women do daily. Women you are truly amazing.
If you had a significant female role model in your life, can you share any words of wisdom that have been passed to you?
My beautiful Mum passed in 2011 from Chemotherapy toxicity. The greatest gift she parted me with is the importance of the Mother/Daughter relationship. Mum guided me through life with strength, grace and wisdom. I will never forget her words, when you have your children “hold space for them to explore, expand and be themselves, don’t put your ideals onto your children”.
Reflecting across all elements of your life, what are you most proud of?
My life has taken many dark paths that have been huge catalysts for change. I am so proud of the women, mother and practitioner I have become. 15 years ago, I started by business Amanda Waaldyk Traditional Chinese Medicine now formally known as Angea. Angea is Melbourne’s leading Women’s Integrative Acupuncture Clinic specialising in Fertility, Women’s Health, Pregnancy and Birth.
How do you believe being a woman affects your relationship to self and therefore, how to care for yourself?
There are many roles that I play throughout a day, from mother to business owner, to practitioner, partner that I often neglect myself. Over the years, I have had to learn to mother myself. In Chinese Medicine there is a phrase “The mother organ must be nourished so she can nourish the child organ”. When we become depleted, we are unable support our community and family. Learning how to mother yourself, having healthy boundaries and self-care is key to creating and maintaining a healthy relationship to self.
Do you have a single self-care ritual that brings you back to self?
I love my self-care ritual. Each night in the shower, I use my sisal bath glove and give myself a whole-body exfoliation. This ritual signifies the end of the day and is a total cleanse from clinic. I use a blend of Himalayan salt and San Ceuticals pH Perfect Body Wash.